Sports blog: Prep baseball power rankings

We are nearly at the halfway point of prep baseball’s conference play. Here’s a look at how we feel the Northwest Conference clubs stack up in the latest installment of our prep baseball power rankings.

1. Ferndale (9-2, 4-0 NWC): It’s hard to argue against a perfect league record, and the Golden Eagles have just that. Ferndale has a lot of experience and should be considered one of the early favorites to contend for a NWC title.

2. Anacortes (7-2, 4-1 NWC): There is a lot to like about the Seahawks. They have some tremendous pitching matched with talent throughout their lineup. Anacortes has two key league tests after spring break against Ferndale and Bellingham.

3. Squalicum (10-2, 3-2 NWC): The Storm’s offense has gone missing in both of the club’s losses, but Squalicum still has the best overall record in the Northwest Conference. It has arguably the best pitching staff in the league and should be a major player the second half.

Sign Up and Save

4: Bellingham (4-9, 4-1 NWC): With a sub-.500 record it’s hard to believe the Red Raiders are one of the top few teams in the Northwest Conference, especially given the fact Bellingham was 2-9 to start the year. But the Red Raiders have talent and can contend with any NWC club.

5. Sehome (6-6, 2-2 NWC): The Mariners have strong pitching and are real close to being a really good ball club. The Mariners’ Achilles heel has been their run production. If they can manage to score runs, they should be a force.

6. Blaine (7-5, 4-1 NWC): Who would have thought the Borderites would be tied for the 2A lead nearly halfway through league play? The Borderites are one of this spring’s biggest surprises. Ace Jonathan Starcer has had a big year, and the hitting has come along, too.

7. Burlington-Edison (5-6, 3-2 NWC): The Tigers began league play 3-0 but have now lost three straight with back-to-back losses to Squalicum and Blaine. The Tigers have the chance to improve their record with games against Nooksack Valley, Mount Baker and LC next on the schedule.

8. Meridian (5-5, 2-2 NWC): Coach Steve Slesk likes his ball club. The Trojans just haven’t been able to hit their stride quite yet. Expect Meridian to be a back-half-of-the-season team and finish strong.

9. Lynden (4-6, 2-3 NWC): At this point it’s become clear the Lions aren’t quite the team they’ve been in the past, but Lynden is still a quality club that could end up contending for a district tournament berth.

10. Nooksack Valley (3-7, 1-4 NWC): The Pioneers got a much-needed win against Sedro-Woolley last Tuesday, and Nooksack Valley has a veteran ball club that could have a better record than it has. The Pioneers have a chance to right the ship with league games against Sehome and Burlington-Edison after the break.

11. Sedro-Woolley (2-7, 1-3 NWC): The Cubs have lost five straight, and the schedule doesn’t get any easier with Ferndale and Blaine up next.

12. Lynden Christian (2-7, 0-4 NWC): The Lyncs are yet to score a run in a league game. Obviously, plate production needs to improve for LC.

13. Mount Baker (1-9, 0-5 NWC): The Mountaineers have been outmatched in nearly all their games this season.

Read Next

In one fell swoop, every Whatcom County boys’ soccer team’s season was over. It all happened within the course of a couple hours and was incredibly shocking. To see incredibly talented Sehome and Squalicum fall back-to-back and then hear that scrappy Lynden Christian was eliminated was jaw-dropping for me.

But now that it’s all over, here’s a look back at the 2015 boys’ soccer season: